Ray Li currently serves as the Senior Director for International Advancement at University of Washington. In this role, he leads the university’s international advancement efforts which includes strategy development, resource development and alumni relations/engagement. Prior to joining the UW, he served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Advancement for Neighborhood House for 12 years. Ray also served as the Assistant Director of Development for the American Red Cross – Greater Hartford Chapter and was involved as a volunteer and paid staff of both the Canadian Red Cross and the American Red Cross - Seattle King County Chapter.

Ray serves on the board of AFP Advancement Northwest, on the Visiting Committee of the Seattle University Master in Not-for-profit Leadership Program and until recently, as an instructor for the University of Washington Certificate in Fundraising Management Program. He also served on the boards of Northwest Development Officers Association (NDOA) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Washington State Chapter (AFP-WA) as well as serving as president for both organizations (NDOA in 2005 and AFP-WA in 2008). He recently completed his term as president of AFP Advancement Northwest in 2016 and remains on the board.

In 2018, Ray was awarded the AFP Advancement Northwest Professional Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed to leaders in the field of fundraising excellence.  In 2015, Ray was awarded the Seattle University Ignite Award for outstanding leadership and service to the non-profit community and in 2010 Ray was awarded the Puget Sound Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award.

Ray continues to serve as an active mentor to young professionals and as a trusted advisor to organizations big and small throughout the Pacific Northwest and around the world on topics ranging from organizational development, to leadership and fundraising. 

In his spare time, you can find Ray and his wife Beeby enjoying the Pacific Northwest with their son Ryder and daughter Dylann or on his own training for triathlons. Once indoors you can be sure to find him in the kitchen cooking.